CASE STUDY
of the post war period and the space is defined by the dramatic arc of the original stainless steel control desk , set against a backdrop of full height anthracitecoloured switchgear racks . The walls and octagonal columns feature original faience tiles in a delicate pale blue , contrasting against the beautifully brutalist machine aesthetic of the control panels .
For the first time ever , members of the public will be able to get up close to the Control Room ’ s historic dials and controls , which helped manage the distribution of a London ’ s electricity when the Power Station was operational .
The original Control Room fittings and switchgear complex are defining features of the space and have been fully restored as part of the regeneration of the Power Station . The iconic dials & switches have previously formed the backdrop to famous movie scenes and album covers , from the Beatles film Help to rock band Hawkweed ’ s album Quark .
Working on such a high profile and historically significant part of the Power Station required Ellis Design Studio to be extremely conscious of both aesthetic and technical considerations when devising the design scheme . The entirely freestanding design was carefully conceived by the Studio to ensure the design was sympathetic to the existing architecture yet felt anchored within the space as a new hospitality venue .
The space has been arranged in a circular configuration , inspired by both the arched form of the existing historic stainless steel control desks and by the radial forms of the original Power Station turbine blades .
The design for the bar involved the creation of a spectacular turbine-inspired , metallic sculptural centrepiece , paying tribute to the character and form of Battersea Power Station ’ s electric , industrial history . An illuminated radial metal canopy adorned with delicately perforated metal fins encircles an existing central column , lending a sense of energy , movement and permeability .
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